First migratory birds of the season at our lake

See PNLIT volunteer and birder Madhurima's report on the first migratory birds at our lake.  In addition to the usual residents, she also spotted an Oriental Magpie Robin pair.

Oriental Magpie Robin couple

Feels so good to see the number of species increasing. Hopefully, both migrants and residents, will come in larger numbers and make the lake their home. 

Here are some birds that we have at our lake, which come from across the borders.

Gray Wagtail: The species is widely distributed, with several populations breeding in Europe and Asia and migrating to tropical regions in Asia and Africa. (wiki)

Grey Wagtail

Common Sandpiper: It breeds across most of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia, and migrates to Africa, southern Asia and Australia in winter. (wiki)

Green Sandpiper: It breeds across subarctic Europe and Asia and is a migratory bird, wintering in southern Europe, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and tropical Africa. (wiki)

Wood Sandpiper: It breeds in subarctic wetlands from the Scottish Highlands across Europe and Asia. They migrate to Africa, Southern Asia, particularly India, and Australia. (wiki) 

3 Wood Sandpipers (left), 1 Green Sandpiper (right)

Brown Shrike: Several populations of this widespread species form distinctive subspecies which breed in temperate Asia and migrate to their winter quarters in tropical Asia.(wiki)

Brown Shrike

Blyth's Reed Warbler:  It breeds in temperate Asia and easternmost Europe. It is migratory, wintering in India and Sri Lanka. (wiki)

Blyth's Reed Warbler

Bird Watch Update

Half way through October and we are eagerly waiting for the first of the migratory birds to arrive at the lake. According to Madhurima, who's been keeping a track on the birds, by this time last year, the Grey Wagtail and Brown Shrike had already made an appearance. Nevertheless Madhurima spotted today a bird that was last seen at the lake on 3rd Dec. 2011. This is the Cotton Pygmy Goose. A female chose to visit the lake. Said to be the smallest waterfowl in the world, Madhurima managed to get a shot from a distance. 

Two other photos by Madhurima are of a snake in water which is as green as the grass unlike the one of the island in the middle of the greyish water. Indeed, the play of light on the water makes it shimmer with such lovely colours from dawn through the day! 

Usha

Birds, birds!

Nirupama Sriram who lives in the JP Nagar 7th Phase area, made full use of the two day bandh (on 20th-21st Feb 2013) by spending time at Puttenahalli Lake and taking photographs of the birds. Her discerning eyes have captured them so beautifully!

The Wood Sandpiper and Yellow Wagtail are both migratory. In fact, the Yellow Wagtail is one of the early winter visitors and is likely to begin its return migration soon since it is becoming pretty hot here.

Wood Sandpiper

Yellow Wagtail (or could be a Gray Wagtail)

It is easy to confuse between the Mynah and the Rosy Starling. The closeups show the difference - the starling has a rose coloured body. It is also migratory and spends winters in India. 

Common Mynah

Rosy Starlings

The other birds are residents but no less important to us! The Pond Heron looks like a silver statue in the backdrop of the Salvinia Molesta! We hope to get the weed removed fairly soon and make the lake attractive to many more birds.

Indian Pond Heron

White-breasted Waterhen

Red-wattled Lapwing

Purple Moorhen/Swamphen

Inputs: Usha Rajagopalan

Pics and bird ids: Nirupama Sriram